Google Maps feature reveals development boom in Houston

Published 4:02 pm, Sunday, April 27, 2014

In 2007: The intersection of Main and Rusk shows a clear shot to the sky.

Houston Street View Then and Now

In 2007: The intersection of Main and Rusk shows a clear shot to the sky.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: It's the site of the shiny new BG Group Tower.

In 2014: It's the site of the shiny new BG Group Tower.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Discovery Green was just starting to come into leaf

In 2007: Discovery Green was just starting to come into leaf

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: It's fully blooming with award winning restaurant, The Grove, at the center.

In 2014: It's fully blooming with award winning restaurant, The Grove, at the center.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: There was nothing on this plot at 1515 Dallas near Minute Maid park.

In 2007: There was nothing on this plot at 1515 Dallas near Minute Maid park.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Now it holds the 262-suite downtown Embassy Suites steps away from the Houston Center Business District, the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston Astros Minute Maid Park, Houston Rockets Toyota Center and the Houston Dynamo BBVA Compass Stadium, itself a new kid on the block. less

In 2014: Just the ocean blue in the distance after hurricane Ike wiped it away, although a revival plan is on the cards for this music venue.

In 2014: Just the ocean blue in the distance after hurricane Ike wiped it away, although a revival plan is on the cards for this music venue.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: This Seabrook neighborhood is also an example of the devastation of Hurricane Ike.

In 2007: This Seabrook neighborhood is also an example of the devastation of Hurricane Ike.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Flood water reached three feet in some homes with Harris County ordering that re-builds must be raised up on stilts or torn down. Many chose the latter.

In 2014: Flood water reached three feet in some homes with Harris County ordering that re-builds must be raised up on stilts or torn down. Many chose the latter.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Millennials are moving to Houston in their droves to take up jobs in the energy sector and other areas, plots like this on Yale street became their new homes.

In 2007: Millennials are moving to Houston in their droves to take up jobs in the energy sector and other areas, plots like this on Yale street became their new homes.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Loft style apartments are a favorites for Houston's new urbanites.

In 2014: Loft style apartments are a favorites for Houston's new urbanites.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: This site on Waugh Drive was completely plain.

In 2007: This site on Waugh Drive was completely plain.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: It's the site of the new Montrose Whole Foods. The last 7 years have seen a multitude of new grocery stores; Walmart and Kroger have also opened large new stores.

In 2014: It's the site of the new Montrose Whole Foods. The last 7 years have seen a multitude of new grocery stores; Walmart and Kroger have also opened large new stores.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Market square was just green with only a few eateries around it.

In 2007: Market square was just green with only a few eateries around it.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: It's newly refurbished with a dog park. Niko Niko's and Barnaby's are just a few of the new restaurant's and bars in the area.

In 2014: It's newly refurbished with a dog park. Niko Niko's and Barnaby's are just a few of the new restaurant's and bars in the area.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Houston's second oldest building on the opposite corner of Market Square looks boarded up and waiting for a transformation.

In 2007: Houston's second oldest building on the opposite corner of Market Square looks boarded up and waiting for a transformation.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: It's the site of the ever popular and bustling hot spot Hearsay Gastro Lounge, where helpful bartenders greet a thirsty after work crowd every day.

In 2014: It's the site of the ever popular and bustling hot spot Hearsay Gastro Lounge, where helpful bartenders greet a thirsty after work crowd every day.

Photo: Google Maps

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The new feature can also be used to track landmarks around the world.

In 2007: New York's Freedom Tower can be seen through it's gradual rise up into the Manhattan Skyline on the new Google maps feature.

The new feature can also be used to track landmarks around the world.

In 2007: New York's Freedom Tower can be seen through it's gradual rise up into the Manhattan Skyline on the new Google maps feature.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: The latest street view photo of the Freedom Tower shows it almost complete.

In 2014: The latest street view photo of the Freedom Tower shows it almost complete.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: This street in Onagawa, Japan before an earthquake and tsunami devastated the area.

In 2007: This street in Onagawa, Japan before an earthquake and tsunami devastated the area.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Street view shows a much changed neighborhood, yet to rebuild.

In 2014: Street view shows a much changed neighborhood, yet to rebuild.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Soccer's world cup stadium in Fortaleza, Brazil is just a shell.

In 2007: Soccer's world cup stadium in Fortaleza, Brazil is just a shell.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Getting ready for kick off.

In 2014: Getting ready for kick off.

Photo: Google Maps

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April in DC: Seasonal changes are also good to check out, the nation's capital is the site of beautiful cherry blossoming in April.

April in DC: Seasonal changes are also good to check out, the nation's capital is the site of beautiful cherry blossoming in April.

Photo: Google Maps

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May in DC: Just a month later it's back to green.

May in DC: Just a month later it's back to green.

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2007: Finally back in Houston, who's this lurking behind scaffold and a tarp back in 2007?

In 2007: Finally back in Houston, who's this lurking behind scaffold and a tarp back in 2007?

Photo: Google Maps

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In 2014: Our own Houston Chronicle building got a face-lift!

In 2014: Our own Houston Chronicle building got a face-lift!

Photo: Google Maps

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Google Maps feature reveals development boom in Houston

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Google Maps has a new time machine feature and it's easy to see what's been going on in Houston in recent years:

Construction, development, more construction and a bit more development.

The new "then and now" feature allows users to scroll back to the very first street view photos taken by Google Maps back in 2007 to see just how an area has changed in the last seven years.

A quick tour of downtown reveals new park areas, high-rise hotels and office blocks and surrounding all that, new residential buildings to go with them.

Areas that were just plain open land now house high-end grocery stores and loft style apartment buildings.

Perhaps most significant on the downtown skyline is the arrival of the BG Group Tower at Rusk and Main, with its impressive glass frontage reaching up into the clear blue.

Then, a little east of that, Discovery Green forms the center of a hubub of new arrivals including the BBVA Compass stadium the Embassy Suites and the soon-to-be Marriot Marquis, a second hotel for the George R. Brown convention Center.

The arrival of new restaurants is also clear, like those surrounding the also newly refurbished Market Square, adding to Houston placing as a center of cuisine with over 11,000 restaurants, according to TripAdvisor.

Time Machine is pretty handy for a look around world landmarks too. You can scroll through construction of the Freedom Tower in New York and, on the other side of the coin, watch the destruction caused by natural disasters like Japan's tsunami in 2001.

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